Met Éireann warns of further heavy showers for today and tomorrow

Torrential rain caused flooding in several parts of the country

Bad weather during the final day of the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, in the RDS Dublin, yesterday. Leinster and Munster were the regions worst affected. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill / The Irish Times

Met Éireann has warned of further heavy showers today and tomorrow after torrential downpours over the weekend caused flooding in several parts of the country. Torrential rain affected a number of sporting events including the final day of the Dublin Horse Show at the RDS.

Leinster and Munster were the regions worst affected as early-morning rain was followed later yesterday by heavy cloudbursts during the afternoon and evening.

In Howth, a number of houses in the village and surrounding estates were flooded yesterday morning after hours of heavy rainfall while the Bloody Stream pub was closed after being inundated by water. A unit of Dublin Fire Brigade was in attendance to pump out the flood waters.

Council praised

“It could have been a lot worse but fortunately the flood waters veered away from some homes,” said local Sinn Féin councillor Daire Ní Laoi, whose home was one of those hit by the surging flood waters. Ms Ní Laoi praised staff with Fingal County Council for their prompt action in supplying sand-bags to affected houses.

A Garda spokeswoman at Howth station said there had been considerable damage caused after serious flooding along Harbour Road, but that this had subsided later in the day.

The M1 Dublin-Belfast motorway, between Donabate and Swords, was closed for a time while motorway maintenance teams dealt with flooding.

In Waterford, gardaí advised drivers to take care on wet roads after a car lost control in heavy rain and crashed into a wall. Severe flooding was also reported in parts of Co Wexford.

Forecaster John Eagleton said that the worst was over, but further heavy showers could be expected this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon. Thereafter, the weather will become drier and temperatures will rise. Further heavy rain is expected next weekend.